Common View with the U.S.
The anxiety in the White House and Downing St. over Yemen underlines a key element of the special relationship. Although America was traditionally opposed to the British Empire, seeing itself as having broken free from it, it has also seen itself as an inheritor of its influence and power, which it has used ever more overtly and especially since the end of the Cold War. This draws it to Britain even more than common language and origins. It also points up something about the foreign policy of both countries, which for all practical purposes is the same. Both countries see their border security in far off lands. Neither has a real threat on its actual border. Britain traditionally engaged in European wars to enhance its security, but after the Norman conquest, faced only three actual threats and all were defeated. The Spanish Armada, Napoleon and Hitler. America dealt with Mexico in the 1840s and has never realistically been threatened by Canada.
I no longer think that such a policy is constructive. As the post cold war years unfold it has become apparent that the key dynamic of world relationships is United States determination to have the world go round its way. This has given succour to the multitude of Islamic terror groups who see themselves as heroic fighters for freedom from U.S influence. We trot behind at America’s coat-tails, because traditionally our foreign office was brought up to see things through a colonial and then post colonial perspective.
Our European neighbours have always been much more interested in the security of their land borders between each other. Historically the aspirations of France, Germany and Russia involved Europe in centuries of war. The European Union, seen by us as an economic structure, is to the Continent a political triumph which has brought unprecedented stability to its member countries. The only source of tension is to the east and here it is not Russian aggression which is the issue, but American driven NATO expansion.
The plain fact in the world today is that it is America which is seen by most as the power to restrain. Whilst in the conviviality of any dinner party or country pub most people see it that way, as a nation we are still wedded to securing the safety of our streets in military operations in some far of land. We no longer have the power to actually do this, so we tag along with the Yanks. But it is not quite as simple as that. In the subtle, subliminal way of ancient statecraft we encourage our staunchest ally to do our bidding, whilst letting it think we are doing its.
There will be no end to terror attacks and mayhem so long as this foreign policy is in force. It no longer serves the interest of either country, let alone the rest of the world. The time has come to wind it down and move in a different direction. There are days when I feel Obama sees this. We need to see it too.